Grading machine



pt .l. 929.- L. A. COGSWELL 1,726,610

' GRADING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet I Sept. 3, 1929. A, C SWELL 1,726,610

GRADING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24,1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATT yp 3, 1929' L. A. COGSWELL 1,726,610

GRADING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 I? I 11,- Q. ezflaZZ, 43L

p 1929- L. A. COGSWELL GRADING MACHINE Filed NOV. 24, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inerfior:

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Sept. 3, 1929. L. A. COGSWELL GRADING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 AT T Sept. 3, 1929. 1.. A. COGSWELL GRADING MACHINE Filed Nov. 24, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Sept. 3, 1929.

L. A. COGSWELL GRADING momma Filed Nov. 24,1926

8 Sheets-Sheet 7 InDen c or Sept. 3, 1929. 1.. A. COGSWELL 1,726,616

GRADING MACHINE I Filed Nov. 24, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 IITX/EFLLEII' ayszai Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEANDER A. COGSWELL, F MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO LACENE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE A CORPORA- TION or MAINE.

GRADING imam-nun.

Application filed November 24, 1926. Serial No. 150,527.

This invention relates to ading machines, for shoe soles, heel li s, counters, taps or other blanks of stock, and more particularly to that type of grading machine I shown in the Nichols Patent No. 1,130,321, dated March 2, 1915; and consists principally in new and improved mechanism by which the movable lower detecting roller will be automatically pulled down away from the upper roller to admit the stock when the stock is fed into the bite of the detecting rollers, and by which the usual gate in front of the detecting rollers will also be lifted and opened as the stock is fed forwardfin new and improved actuating mechanism for the feeding-in mechanism adapted positively to actuate the feed member during normal operation of the machine but to slip under abnormal stresses and thus prevent breakage in case the feeding-in mechanism becomes clogged; in a novel trip shoe for rendering the. setting mechanism operative to preserve the thinness measurement as determined by the detecting rollers, so constructed as to be actuated by the stock immediately upon its emergence from the detecting rollers; in a noval construction andrelationship of the hold-down shoe and a grooved upper detecting roller, which makes it possible to eliminate the front bracket heretofore used for the hold-down shoe, the presence of which would interfere with the adjustment of the trip shoe close to. the bite of the detecting rollers; and in kind adapted to permit a succeeding blank t-o operatethe' detecting mechanism before the grading mechanism has completed its operation on the preceding blank, thereby to increase the rate of production of the machine. These and other features of novelty and improvement will hereinafter be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Some of the novel features hereinafter described are claimed in my other co-pending applications and are therefore not c'laimed heroin, and the omission to claim them inthe present application is not to be construed as a Waiver of any patent rights therefor.

A grading machine of the kind to which this application relates comprises, generally, detecting mechanism for detecting or measuring a thickness characteristic of the sev-' eral successive blanks to be operated upon,

' new' and improved setting mechanism of the grading. mechanism responsive to the detecting mechanism for acting upon or with reference to the blanks, and setting or transmitting mechanism for setting or adjusting the grading mechanism in accordance with the grade of each blank asdetermined by the detecting mechanism. The generic term grading mechanism, as established in this art, may include means for evening or skiving the blank down to the-thickness of the thinnest spot as determined by the detecting mechanism, means for marking or stamping the blank in accordance with its detected grade, means for visually indicating said grade, as by a pointer and scale, or means for distributing or sortingblanks in accordance with their detected grades. A grading machine may and commonly does contain more than one of said species of grading mechanisms. In the present application I have described by way of illustration a grading machine which evens and marks the blanks. I

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an evening machine constructed in accordance with my invention. I

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

F igure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-'4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Figure 6 is a detail of the feeding clutch hereinafter described.

Figure 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 1.

Figure 8 is a plan view, on larger scale, of the magazine hereinafter described.

Figure 9 is an elevation of certain parts shown in Fig. 8.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of certain details of the setting mechanism.

Figure 11 is a reverse view of certain parts shown in Figure 10; and

Figure 12 is a vertcial, longitudinal section of parts shown in Figure 10. 100

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 represents the main shaft of my improved machine, carrying at one end thereof fast and loose pulleys 3 and 2, respectively so that normally, with the driving belt (not fixed on it a pinion 4 operating through an intermediate gear 5 to drive two gears 6 and 7 (Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 7).

The gear 6 is fast on one end of a shaft 8 which also extends across the machine and has loosely andslidably mounted upon its opposite end a clutch pinion 9 (Figs. 1 and 5) provided upon its outer face with teeth 10 and constituting one member of a clutch whose other member 11 rotates continuously with the shaft 8 and is provided with teeth 12 to co-operate with the teeth of pinion clutch-member 9. The pinion clutchmember 9 is made hollow at its inner end to accommodate a spring 13 which yieldingly urges said member 9 toward the rotating member 11. The inner end of the pinion clutch-member 9 is also provided upon its exterior with a stud or pin 14 cooperating with a; cam arm 15 pivotally mounted at 16 on the frame of the machine. The outer end of cam arm 15 is connected by a link 17 with one arm of a bell-crank lever 18 (Figs.

1 and 2) fulcrumed at 19 on the frame of the machine. The other arm of this bellcrank has a stud or pin 18 engaging the end of a push rod 20 slidably mounted in a bracket 21 secured to the top of the frame of the machine. The opposite end of this push rod is co-operatively disposed with relation to the path of a stud 01' pin 22 projecting from another pinion clutch member 23 (Fig. 4).

With the parts in the positions shown the cam arm 15, through its engagement with the pin 14, is holding the pinion clutch member 9 out of engagement with the clutch member 11, and when this is the case no soles or the like are being transferred to the machine from a hopper H, although the shafts 1 and 8, and mechanism connect-- ed therewith, are in motion. It will be clear,

however, that if cam arm 15 is raised against the pull of a spring 24 which is connected therewith (Fig. 2), arm 15 will be lifted abdve the stud 14 and the spring 13 will throw the clutch pinion 9 into engagement with the clutch member 11. 4

The machine is initially started by the operator b hand by swinging bell-crank 18 to-the rigiit (Fig.2) thus raising arm 15. Thereafter said'arm 15 is automatically controlled and operated by the clutch pinion 23 so as to cause the soles to be fed from magazine H one at a time so long as any soles remain within the magazine, the machine continuin automatically to feed the soles successive y through the machine from the magazine until the contents of the latter are exhausted. The feeding mechanism is actuated tofeed in a new blank from the magazine each time the clutch pinion 23 is 1'0- tated to actuate the stamping mechanism for the next preceding blank, as hereinafter described.

When the clutch pinion 9 is in. engagement with the constantly rotating clutch member 11, it acts through an intermediate pinion 25 to drive a pinion 26 that is fast on a shaft 27 jonrnalcd on the frame of the machine. At its inner end the shaft 27 (Figs. 5 and 7) has fast on it a crank arm 28 connected by a link 29 with a feed slide 30, (Fig. 2) which, through the rotation of the crank arm 28, is reciprocated beneath the sta k of soles or other blanks S within the magz-izine H. Feed slide 30 carries a sole engaging dog 31 (Fig 1, 2 and 8) and. each time slide 30 moves toward the left this dog 31 engages the rear 0 lge of the lowermost blank and feeds the la. ter forward to a pair of gage rolls or. deter ing rolls 32 and 33 (Fig. 7).

As shown in Fig. 3 t .0 lower gage roll or detecting roll comprise: two sections each adjustably secured to a shaft 35 by a set screw 34. Shaft 35 is journaled in boxes 36 slidably mounted in vertical ways provided on the frame of the machine, and these two boxes are rigidly connected by a cross-bar or yoke 37 fastened by screws to the under sides of said boxes. To the cross-bar 37 are pivotally connected the upper ends of two threaded rods 38 which extend downwardly through slots provided near the extremities of two arms 39 forming part of a hub or sleeve 39 loosely fulcrumed on the shaft 8 (Figs. 3, 5 and 7). The arms 39 rest upon washers 40 provided upon their under side with sockets adapting them to seat upon hemispherical washer nuts 41 threaded on the rods 38 and locked by check nuts 42 screwed on said rods. These nuts 41 provide for accurate vertical positioning of the washers 40.

The hub 39 is made with a third arm 43, extending beneath the shaft 27 and co-oper-.

When the cam arm 15 is raised the clutch members 9 and 11 are engaged and the shaft 27 is rotated to the extent of one revolution and causes the crank arm 28 to impart one complete reciprocatory movement to feed slide 30. As the feed slide carries the lowermost sole or blank toward the detecting rolls 32and 33 the cam"44, through its engagement with the arm 43 rocks the hub 39 on shaft 8 in a direction to cause the arms 39, acting through the rods 38, to pull the lower detecting roll downwardly well away from the upper detecting roll 32. This movement of the lower detecting roll is timed so that the two rolls are separated as the advance end of the sole which is being fed forward by slide nears said rolls.- Thus said a l- Vance end is admitted between the detecting between the detecting rolls 32 and 33 the cam 44 falls away permitting the levers 45, actuated by spring 47, to thrust the lower gage roll upwardly so that the sole is clamped etween the two detecting rolls by which its forward movement is continued. As made clear above, thegear 7 is continuously rotating; this gear is fast on-the shaft 48 of the upper gage roll 32, the two shafts 48 and being connected by gears 49. It will therefore be clear that the two.

gage rolls are continuously in motion and as soon as the blank is clamped between on the frame of the machine and connected by a link 53 with an arm 54- forming part of a lever 54* fulcrumed on a stud (Figs.

3, 5, and 7)'- projecting from the frame of.-

the machine. The weight of the parts 51, 53, and 54, assisted by a spring 54!, normally tends to hold this gate 51 in its lowermost position. \Vhen the lower gage roll is pulled down by the lever arms 39 as described, one of the arms 39 acts through a small lever 56 fulcrumed at 57 on the frame ofthe machine (see Figs. 3 and 7) to push the arm 54 upwardly thus raising the gate 51 as the feed slide 30'delivers a sole to the. gage rolls. The lever 39 carries an adj ustablc abutment screw 58 which is the part of said lever 39 that engages the small lever 56.

The continuously driven main shaft -1 (Figs. 2' and 4) carries a sprocket 5!).connected bya chain 60 with a. sprocket 61 fast on a stud shaft projecting from the frame of the machine, and this sprocket is compounded with a pinion 62 driving a gear 63 fast on a shaft 64-(see also Fig. 7 extending across the machine. Near its middle, shaft- 64carries a sprocket 65 engaging the feed chain 50, said chain also extending around a pulley 66 rotatably supported adjacent the gage roll 33.

The continuously driven chain 50 delivers each sole or blank to a air of feeding and skiving rolls 67 and 68 Figs. 4 and 7) and theflatter, together with a pair of delivery rolls 69 and-.70, carrythe sole past a stationary knife blade 71 and discharge it from the machine.

The pinion4 on main shaft 1 (Fig. 1) is compounded with -a pinion 72 which con tinuously drives agear 73 fast on the shaft 74 (Fig. 2 of the lower skiving roll 68 so that the latter is continuously driven. The

shaft 75 of the upper skiving roll 67 carries a 77 which in turn 1's driven by a pinion 78 fast on main shaft 1. Thus the upper feed roll 67 is continuously driven also. As will be clear from Fig. 4, the continuously driven intermediate pinion 77 is compounded with a clutch member 79 which co-operates with the clutch pinion 23, referred to above.

The stud i22'on clutch pinion 23 co-operates as usual with a-throw-out cam 80 (Figsf 2 and 4) forming part ofthe usual cam arm 81 that is pivotally mounted at 82 on the frame of the machine, a spring 83 tendingnormaliy to hold arm 81 with its cam 80 in position to engage the stud 22 and thereby hold the clutch pinion 23 out of engagement witln its com ilementary member 79 against the pressure of the usual spring, not shown, which yieldingly urges clutch pinion23 toward clutch" member 79. This spring referred to is like the spring 13, Fig. 5, of clutch member 9.

Cam arm 81 carries a spring'pressed latch 84 whose lower end is co-operatively disgear- 76 driven by an intermediate pinion posed with respect to the upper end of a lever arm 85 pivotally mounted at 86 on the frame of the machine (Fig. 2). Lever arm 85 is normally held, as usual, by a spring I with its upper enda't the limit of its moveme-nt toward the left (Fig 2) and, with said upper end occupying a, position immediately behind the lower end of the spring pressed latch 84. The intermediate portion of lever 85 has a lug adjacent an arm 87 carried by a rock shaft 88 journaled in hearings on the frame of'the machine (Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 7). Near the middle of the machine rock shaft 88 has fixed on it a pair of trip arms 89 whose free ends extend upwardly into the path of the soles, the extremities of said arms being beveled and disposed near the the bed plate or table 91 is theusual h0ld-' defi vnshoe or rail 92 whose springs 93 cause against, the feed chain 50.

The hold-down shoe 92, extends into and is guided by the central groove in the upper gage roll 32. This prevents side: play of the shoe 92 and makes it possible to dispense with the bracket heretofore used. similar to the bracket at the other end of the shoe. which would interfere with the trip shoe 174, presently to be deat its front end, f

1 it yieldingly to press. the sole or blank shaft 88, the arm 87 scribed, when the latter is adjusted close to the bite of the rolls 32. 33.

When a blank, in passing from the detecting rolls to the skiving rolls, reaches andturned over about two-thirds of a complete revolution :1 re-setting lever 197 is automatically operated as hereinafter described and lifts latch 84, whereupon the arm 81 is drawn back by spring 83 into co-operative position withrelation to clutch pinion 23 so that as the latter nears the end of one revolution the stud 22 thereon rides against the cam 80 and the clutch pinion 23 is withdrawn from engagement with clutch member 79 and its motion is thereby stopped at the completion of one revolution.

As the clutch pinion 23 nears of its revolution, and immediately before cam 80 acts upon the stud" 22, the latterstrikes the end of. thepush rod 20 and-operates, through said'push rod, bell-crank 18 and link 17 to raise cam arm 15, thereby occasioning a movement of one revolution of the shaft 27 'which,as described above, results in a reciprocatory movement of the feed slide 30, whereby another sole or blank is started upon its journey through the machine 'Since the described automatic operation of the cam arm 15 is occasioned by the engagement oi the'blank'with the trip arms 89, it will be clear that upon-refilling the hopper or magazine H after exhaustion of its contents, a manually effected operation of bell-crank lever18 is necessary to start the first sole or the like through the machine.

the end screws-100 are provided at their upper ends with worm wheels 102 which are in mesh with worms 103 (Figs. 1 and 7) carried by a hexagonal ,shaft 104 journaled at its ends in hearings on the frame of the machine.

As will be clear, manual rotation of shaft' wall 108 is fastened in a fixed position by screws 111 which secure it to the frame of the machine, whileQthe end wall 107 is'fastened ina fixed position on the shelf 105 by a belt 112, but with provision for adjustment toward and from the end wall 108, said bolt extending through a slot 113 in shelf 105. V

The side guidesllO (Fig.8) are provided with arms 114 having tapped holes near their ends, the tapped hole of one arm having a right hand thread and the tapped hole of the other arm" having a left hand thread.

Through the holes of these arms extends a screw shaft 115 having appropriately threaded end portions engaging the threaded holes of the arms 114. This threaded shaft 115 has a bearingin a bracket 116,secured to the outer side of the end wall 107 and near its middle is made with an annular groove into which projects the inner end of a screw 117 which serves to hold the shaft against endwise movement but free to rotate. At one end shaft 115 is provided with a hand wheel 118 by means of which it is manually rotated to adjust the side guides 110 toward and from each other. Near The clutch member 11 (Fig. 5) is distheir lower ends the side guides 110 are proposed between fibre washers 94 and 95, the washers 94 abutting against a shoulder 96 (Fig. 6) on shaft 8, while a metal washer 97 keyed to the end of shaft 8 as shown in Fig. 6, is clamped against the outer fibre washer 95 by nuts 98. Thus the clutch member 11 is not positively, but frictionally, connected with the sha 8.- This provides a connection which yields in the event that the feeding stroke of slide 30 is arrested through clogging at the magazine, and in this way breakage of parts is prevented.

The journal boxes 99, (Fig. 3) of the upper detecting r'oll'are' rigidly supported in fixed positions, but with provision for vertical adjustment by screws jonrnaledjinbearings provided in a cross bar 101 forming part of the frame of the machine. The

vided with laterally projecting lugs 119 (Fig.2) occupying transverse grooves 120 provided upon the inner face of end wall 107 to guide the side walls in their lateral adjustments.

The side guides 109 are also provided with laterally extending angular arms 121, each provided near its extremity with a threaded hole, the hole of one arm being tap with a left hand thread and'the hole of the other arm being tapped with a right hand thread. Through the holes of the two arms 121 extends a screw shaft 122 whose opposite end rtions are appropriately formed with rig t and left hand threads, respectively. Near its middle the screw shaft 122 has bearing in a bracket 123 secured to the outer side ofend wall 108 and this bracket is formed with a slot 124 occupied by a latch 125, said latch engaging one of a series of annular grooves 126 provided upon the screw shaft 122 to hold the latter against endwise movement. The latch 125 is pivoted at 127 upon a lug projecting from end wall 108 and is acted upon by a spring 125, which holds the latch in engagement with the screw shaft. Screw shaft 122 is provided atone end with a hand wheel 129 and, as will be clear, said shaft is free to be rotated manually but cannot normally be moved endwise because of the engagement of latch 125 with one of the grooves 126. Rotation of screw shaft 122 adjusts the side guides 109 toward and from each other, and by disengaginglatch 125 from the screw shaft 122 the latter can be moved endwise with relation to the fixed end wall 108, carrying the two side guides 109 with it.

The median line of the forepart of a sole is not ordinarily parallel with the median line of the rear part including the shank and heel, the two ordinarily forming an obtuse angle, as can readily be observed in the blank S shown in Fig. 8. Moreover in a right foot sole this obtuse angle is the reverse of that in a left foot sole.

\Vhen operating upon soles the latter are fed heel first. Generally it is the practice to grade soles only with reference to the forepart, and only with reference to the marginsof that part, since the thickness of the heel and shank parts and the middle area of the forepart of a sole is a matter of little or no consequence to the shoemaker. Therefore in order to grade soles accurately with reference to the margins of the forepart it is important to feed the soles into and through the machine with the median line a (Fig. 8) of the part to-be graded, namely the forepart, substantially parallel to and approximately coincident with the center line of the machine. The median line 0 of the forepart of a sole, as usually determined, intersects the approximate center of the toe, or tip of the forepart, and is thence drawn about equidistant from the narrowest parts, a and b, of blank at either side ofvthe line. Conse' quently the side guides 110, 110 of the feed magazine, while adjustable for the width of the soles, need not be adjustable off center from the middle line of the machine. But in order to make the median line of the forepart of the soles-travel substantially along the middle line of the machine the side guides 109, 109, which guide andposition the heels of the soles, are offset laterally '109 varying distances in either direction to conform to varying styles of soles according to the extent to whichthe heel is oflset from -the median line of the forepart. To confine the measuring or detecting action of the deof the soles, the roll 33 is made in two sections adjustable on shaft 35 as already described, so that the middle area of the soles, to such width as desired, will not affect the grading.

Asa guide to the operator in positioning the side guides laterally offset with. respect to the center line of the machine, I have provided a pointer or finger 128 loosely mounted upon screw shaft 122 between two pins 129 and co-operating with an index or scale 130 on end wall 108.

Referring now to the setting mechanism between the detecting roll 33 and thesk-iving and stamping-mechanisms: Loosely mounted upon each rod 38 that is connected with the lower gage roll (Figs. 3, 5 and 7) is a washer 131 supported with provision for adjustment by a pair of nuts 132, and upon these two washers 131 is seated the intermedlate portion of a segment transmission lever 133 secured to a .rock shaft 134 journaled at its ends in bearings on the frame of the machine, a spring 135 between said lever and the cross-bar 37 serving to-maintain the lever against the washers 131. The teeth at the free end of transmission lever 133 engage the teeth of a segment 136 (Figs. 5,7 and 10) which is fastened by a bolt 137 to an arm 138 fast on a rock shaft 139, Journaled at its ends in bearings on the frame of the machine. 'Also fast on shaft 139' isa controlling arm 140 cooperatively disposed with relation to a lug 141 provided upon an arm 142 that is loosely mounted upon the shaft 139. Upon the side of said arm 142 opposite to lug 141 is another laterally projecting lug 143 connected by a relatively stiff spring 144 with a lug 146 projecting from one side of a gear-segment 147 also loose on shaft 139. This gear-segment 147 meshes with gear teeth 148 provided upon the under side of a rack-bar 149, said rack-bar also being provided with teeth 150 upon one side thereof which mesh with a pinion 151 secured to the lower end of an upright shaft 152.

At its upper end the shaft 152, carrles a.

- tecting roll 33 to the side edges or margins pinion 153 meshing with teeth 154 (Fig. 1)

provided upon the side of the usual wedgecarrying slide 155 (Figs. 1, 4 and 7) whose wedges 156 co-operate, as usual, with wedges 157 (Fig. 4) provided upon the top sides of the journal boxes 158 carrying the upper skiving roll 67. The wedges or inclines 156 and 157 have horizontal stepped engaging surfaces as is usual in the Nichols and (logswell machine. The journal boxes 158, as well as the journal boxes 159 (Fig. 7) of the lower skiving roll 68, are mounted to slide vertically in ways provided on the frame of the machine. The usual spring 160 (Fig. 7) operates yieldingly to urge the wedge slide 155 toward the limit of its inward movement (toward the left in Fig. 4) said limit being determined by the engagement of an adjustable abutment screw 162 (Fig. 1) with the side of the frame of the machine, said abutment screw being carried by the wedge slide 155. The outward movement of slide 155 is limited by the engagement of the end of rack-bar 149 with an adjustable abutment screw 151 (Figs. 6 and 7).

The passage of the blank between the detecting rolls 32 and 33 causes roll 33 to move up and down, the thicker parts of the blank depressing roll 33 and the thinner parts permitting roll33 to rise under the influence of spring 47 (Fig. 3). The up and down movement of ro l 33 acts through the cross-bar 37, rods 38 and spring 135 to swi the segment lever 133 up and down an thereby, acting through segment 136, to rock the shaft 139 with its arm 140 to the extent determined b roll 33. T e lug 141, arm 142 and segment 147 normally tend to follow the movements of arm 140, said parts being swung to the left (Figs. 7 and 10) b arm 140 and to the right by spring 160 actlng through'the slide bar 155, pinion 153, shaft 152, P111101] 151 and rack bar 149, since the arm 142 and segment 147 tend to move together being joined by spring144; The spring 144 is considerably stronger than spring 160 and therefore when there is no blank between the skivin 67 and 68 and the slide bar 155 is ree to move, the spring 144 functions as a rigid connection between segment 147 and arm 142 and causes the arm 142 to follow the arm 140 under the influence of spring 160 when arm 140 is swung to the right (Figs. 7 and 10) by segment lever 133. And conversely when segment lever 133 swings arm 140 to the left, carrying with it arm 142, the spring 144 causes segment 147 to follow arm 142, carrying with it rack bar 149 and thereby moving slide bar 155 in the opposite direction against the pull of spring 160.

T us with no blank in the machine the parts 140, 142 and 147 will move together and conse 'uently the wedge bar 155 will respond to t e movements of lever 133, which the thickness detections of the rolls in turn responds to the grade detections as determined by the detecting rolls. If however a blank is between the skiving and feeding rolls 67, 68, the pressure thereby exerted between the lower and upper wedge blocks 157 and 156 will lock the wedge bar 155 against movement; hence the adjustment of the wedge bar will remain fixed so long as the blank for which it was adjusted remains between the rolls 67 and 68. Butthe grade detection of the next following blank may nevertheless proceed at the same time. If the lever 133 swings arm 140 to the right it merely moves idly away from lug 141 on arm 142 as Shown in Fig. 10. If the lever 133 swings arm 140 to the left it carries with it arm 142, which is permitted by the extension of spring 144 notwithstanding segment 14? is locked against movement by the wedge blocks. The instant the preceding blank passes out from between the rolls 67 68, the wedge blocks separate and the wedge bar 155 is free tomove. Thereuponthewed e bar will shift to the position determined y the In this machine, as in previous Nichols and Cogswell machines, the setting mechanism is designed to preserve the measure ment of the thinnest spot in theblank as determined by the detecting rolls and to transmit only such thinness measurement to the skiving, mentalities, which are controlled, in the present embodiment, by the wedge bar 155. To this end shaft 139 (Fig. 7) has rigidly fixed to it two opposed ratchet segments 163 and 164, the former co-operating with a pawl 165 which constitutes one arm v of the lever 54, and the latter co-operating with a pawl 166 pivoted on a stud 167 projecting from the frame of the machine. The pawl 166 has an arm 168 on which rests the lower end of a push-rod 169 which is pivotally vconnected at its upper end to an arm 170 projecting from a rock shaft 171 (Figs.v 1, '2 and 7), said rock shaft being journaled in a bearing 172 upon the under side of the crosshead 101 (Figs-1, 3 and 7). Rock shaft 171 also carries another arm 173 extending horizontally toward the skiving rolls, and on this arm 173 is clamped, with provision for adjustment lengthwise of said arm 17 3, a .depending trip shoe 174 whose lower end-straddles the hold-down shoe 92 and rests on the.

table in a position directly in the path "of the soles. The trip shoe 174 serves as a weight which acts through arm 173, shaft 171, arm 170 and push rod 169, to hold the pawl 166 out of engagement with the ratchetsegment 164 so long as there is no sole present beneath the shoe 174; When the shoe 174 is lifted the pawl 166 is allowed to engage the ratchet segment 164.

marking or other grading instru-- The other pawl 165 is controlled by the gate 51. When the gate 51 is down it acts through link 53 and lever 54 to hold the pawl 165 in engagement with ratchet 163. Then the gate .51 is lifted it disengages pawl 165 from ratchet 163.

As already explained, each time a blank is fed forward from the magazine by a revolution of shaft 27 the lower detecting roll is pulled down by the levers 39, and at the same time the gate 51 is lifted (through lever 56, lever 54 and link 53). The same movement of lever 54 disengages pawl 165 from ratchet 163. When the forward end of the blank has passed under the gate 51- the gate again falls (as soon as cam 44 passes off lever arm 43') but as there is now a blank under gate 51 the latter is'supported by the blank sufficiently to hold the pawl out. of ratchet 163. At this stage, and until the blank lifts shoe 174both pawls 166 and 165 until the heel and shank have passed the gage rolls 32 and 33. But as soon as that part of the blank which it is desired to grade is reached, the leading end of the blank lifts the trip shoe 174 and allows the pawl 166 to engage ratchet 164. -Now ratchet 1.64, and consequently shaft 139, is restrained from moving in a direction corresponding to thicker measurements of the blank but is free to move in the other direction in response to successively thinner measurements. In other words, only a diminution in the detected thickness of the blank will operate to change the angular adjustment of shaft 139 and arm 140, any increase in thickness merely operating to flex the spring 135. If there is already a blank between the skiving and'feeding rolls 67, 68 the adjustment of shaft 139 and arm 140 will not affect the ad-.

justment of the wedge bar 155, as already explained, since wedge bar 155 will be clamped immovably by the engagement of the stepped wedges 156and 157. r

Thus the arm 140 will be positioned to accord with the thinnest spot detected in the blank. When the rear or following end of the blank is about to pass between the gage rolls 32 and 33, it passes from under the gate 51, whereupon the gate falls and allows the pawl 165 to engage ratchet.163. Now the setting shaft 139 is locked against movement in either direction, since the shoe 174 controlling pawl 166 is still held up by the blank. As soon as the preceding blank passes out from between rolls 67. and 68 the wedge bar 155 assumes the adjustment determined by the position of shaft 139 and arm 140, as set by the next succeeding blank which is now approaching rolls 67 and 68. The pawl 165 remains set in the ratchet 163 until after the leading end of the blank has operated arms 89, one result of which, as already explained, is to lift the gate 51 to admit another blank to the detecting rolls. When the following end of the blank passes from under shoe 174, the latter falls and withdraws the other pawl 166 from its ratchet 164.

Thus far the trip shoe 174 has been described as adjusted to such position that the measured grade of the blank will not be registered or preserved until after a predetermined part of the blank has passed the detecting-rolls. It is sometimes desired, however, to grade the blank for its whole length. For this purpose the shoe 174 is so shaped-as tofbe adjusted close to the detecting rolls .32, 33, as shown in dotted lines in Fig; 7. The shank of the shoe 174 inclines toward the rolls and its tip is shaped to extend closely into the bite of the rolls, so that the measuring may start immediately after the blank leaves the detecting rolls.

Just before the forward end of the blank arrives at the skiving rolls 67 and 68 it operates the trip arm 89 thereby starting a second sole through the machine from the hopper H and at the same time, while the forward end portion of the blank is on the anvil plate 90 (Fig. 7) it is struck by a ver tically movable die wheel 175 which marks the sole according to its thickness as determined by the gage rolls 32 and 33.

The forward end of the sole next enters between the feed rolls 67 and 68, the first effect of which is to raise the upper feed roll 67. until it wedges 157 seat against the wedges 156 of the slide bar 155, after which the lower roll 68 is forced downwardly against the supporting pressure of its springs 176 a distance equal to the thickness of the skiving or layer that is removed from the sole by the blade 71 as the sole passes from rolls 67 and 68 to the rolls 69 and 70. The soles are preferably fed ,through the machine flesh side downward sothat the surplus or waste stock is taken from said flesh side by knife71. v

The second sole started through the machine by operation of trip arms 89 is passing between the gage rolls 32 and 33 while the first sole is passing between the feed rolls 67 and 68, and at this time the wedge slide 155 is clamped fixedly (by the pressure be tween the wedge blocks as above described) in the position to which it was adjusted for 'the first sole.

The abutment screw 162, Fig. 1, may be fixed to a shaft not turn out soles exceeding a predetermined thickness grade. That is to say, when a sole greater than the predetermined thickness enters between the gage rolls it will effecta correspondingly great angular adjustment of the arm 140 toward the right (Fig. 7),, butwhen the preceding sole leaves the feed rolls 67 and 68 and the slide 155 is thereby unclamped and moved inwardly by its spring 160, such inward movement of the slide 155 will be limited by the engagement of the abutment screw 162 with the side of the frame of the machine and not by the engagement of the lug 141 with the arm 140.

Continued operation of segment-lever 133 and gear segment 136 may result in wear of their teeth causing objectional back lash between the two which tends to cause inaccurate grading. For this reason the segment 136 is provided with a series of angularly spaced holes 176 (Fig: 10) to receive the bolt 137'; Thus, when the teeth become worn segment 136 may be angularly adjusted with respect to the arm 138 and scgment-lever 133 by transferring belt 137 to another hole 176, intermeshing different teeth of the lever and segment and thereby eliminating back lash.

The journal-boxes 159 of the lower feed roll 68 are secured to a cross-bar 178 (Figs. 4 and 7) which rests upon the springs 176 supported by seats 179, said seats being se cured by screws 181 to a cross-bar 180 forming part of the frame of the machine. The screws 181 provide for vertical adjustment of the seats 179 to regulate the pressure of the springs 176. Rods 182 having their upper ends secured to the cross-bar17 8 extend downwardly and loosely through holes provided in the cross-bar 180 below which they are provided with stop nuts 183 which, by engagement with cross-bar 180, limit the upward movement of the lower feed roll. toward the knife 71 under the influence of springs 176.

The markin or stamping wheel 175 is 184 whichis carried by a vertically movable slide 185 mounted in ways on the frame of the machine; To the slide 185 is pivoted a. gear segment 186 meshing with a pinion 187 fast on shaft 184 (Figs. 1, 4 and 7) and this segment is connected by a link 188 with the wedge slide 155. Through the connections-described, the marking wheel 17 5 is angularly adjusted by the wedge slide 155 so as to mark each sole according to its thickness grade as determined by the gage rolls 32 and 33. The upper end of theslide 185 is engaged by an arm 189, pivoted at 190 on the frame of thegmachine and yieldingly urged downwardly by a spring 191 (Fig. 1). The slide 185 is supported in the position shown by the usual care, not shown in the drawings, which is mounted upon the inner end of a shaft 192. Through the sion of the trip arms 89 occasions one revolution of the. shaft 192 and the cam referred to. During this revolution the cam drops the slide 185 whereupon the spring 191 throws said slide downwardly causing the die wheel 175 to strike on top of the sole and mark the latter, immediately after which the cam restores slide 185 to its elevated position again. At its outer end the shaft 192 carries a pinion 193 connectedthrough intermediate pinions 194 with the clutch pinion 23. Thus when '.the clutch pinion .23 is caused to make one revolution and stop through the engagement of the sole with the trip arms 89 the shaft 192, through the connections described, is caused to make one revolution and stop.

During the time that they sole is passing over the anvil plate 90 (Fig. 7) the trip arms 89 are held depressed with the lever arm '85 (Fig. 2) at the limit of its movement toward the right and the latch 84 resting on the block at the upper end of arm 85. As soon as the sole passes beyond trip arms 89 the lever arm is swung toward the left by its spring.

The lower delivery roll 70 (Fig. 7) has integral end trunnions journaled in bearings on the frame of the machine,.and outside of said frame one of these trunnions has secured toit a pinion 195; (Fig. 2) which is continuously driven by the gear 63 through an intermediate gear 196 journaled on a stud projecting from the frame of the'machine.

From the above description it will be seen that as each sole arrives at the feed rolls67 and 68 it depresses the trip arms 89, thereby causing pinion-clutch 23 and the shafts 27 and 192 (Fig. 2) which are normally at rest, each to make one coinplete revolution and stop, and it has been explained that the resetting lever 197 is automatically operated during this time to restore the cam arm 81 to -coroperative position with relation to the clutch pinion 23 just before the latter completes its revolution. This automatic operation of the resetting lever 197 is effected by a stud 19.8 projecting from the outer face of the pinion 193 and co-operating with one arm of the resetting lever 197, the other arm of said lever occupying a position immedi-' same feeding effect as if a double chainwere i used.

' The'operation of the several mechanisms 9 with the foregoing description of said mech- -anisms; but the order. of sequence and the relationship of the several actions may be better understood from the following brief description of asawhole. L When starting lever 18 is swung to the right clutch pinion 9 is let into the clutch member 11 on the continuously rotating shaft 8. This starts the rotation of shaft 27 which actuates the feed slide 30 through link 29. The feed slide 30 first moves idly to the right until it engages the lowermost blank of the stack of blanks S and then starts for- 15 ward to feed the blank into the machine. When the cam 44 on shaft 27 pushes down lever 43, which pulls down the lower detecting roller 33 through arms 39 andtrods 38, said-cam simultaneously pushes up lever 54 and lifts the gate 51. After the forward end of the blank has been fed under gate 51 and between the detecting rollers 32, 33, the cam 44 moves'oif from lever 43 and allows the gate and the lower detecting roller to close on to the blank.

As the blank moves forward it lifts the trip shoe 17 i, which acts through arm 170 and rod 169 to let pawl 166 into engagement with the ratchet segment 164, thereby preserving the adjustment of the setting mechanism in accordance with the thinnest spot as determined by the detector. When the rear or following end of the blank passes from under the gate 51 the gate is allowed to drop, thereby. engaging pawl 165 with ratchet segment 163. The shaft 139 of the setting mechanism is now locked against rotation in'either direction.

When the leading end of'the blank strikes 40 the fingers on the endof lever 89, the latter acts through shaft 88, arm 87, lever 85 and holding lever 81 to let in the stamping. clutch 23, which makes one revolution and stops thereby operating the stamping or marking 4 -mechanism. During the single revolution of the clutch 23, the pin 22 projecting from clutch 23 moves to push rod 20 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, thereby causing another blank "to-be fed into the machine.

The preceding blank enters the skiving or evening rollers 67, 68, before the next succeeding blankenters the detecting rollers. This clamps and locks the slide 155 in its adjusted position by reason of the engagement under pressure of the inclines or wedge blocks 156 and 157 whileboth pawls 166 and 165 are still locked. -Under these conditions and while the preceding blank'is still being skived, or otherwise graded, the nexEtsucceeding-blank enters the detecting rollers,

pawl 165 having been released by the opening of the gate 51. The other pawl 166 is released by the preceding blank when it passes out from under trip shoe 174. The-setting mechanism is thus ready to respond ,to the the operation'of the machine measurements of the next succeeding blank while the adjustment of the grading mechanism for the preceding blank is still preserved 1. In a grading machine, detecting mechanism including an upper member, and a movable lower detecting member for engaging the under. side of a piece of stock to be graded, means yieldingly to press'the lower detecting member upward, tbward the upper member, grading mechanism governed by the lower detecting member, feeding-in mechanism to feed the stock to the detecting mechanism, and-means to pull down the lower detecting member away from the upper member as the stock approaches the detecting mechanism.

2. In a grading machine, detectingmechanismincluding'an upper member, and a movable lower detecting member-for engaging the under 'side of a piece of stock to be graded, means yieldingly to press the lower detecting member upward toward the upper member, grading mechanism governed by the lower detecting member, a gate in front of the detecting mechanism, feeding-in mechanism to feed the stock to the detecting mechanism, and means to pull down the low- 'er de-tectmg member away from the upper member and to open the gate as the stock approaches the detecting mechanism.

3. In a grading machine, detecting mechanism including an upper member, and a movable lower detecting member for engaging the underside of a piece of stock to be graded, means yieldingly to press the lower detect-' ing member upward toward the upper member, gradmg mechanism governed by the lower detecting member, a gate in front of the detecting mechanism, feedingein mechanism to feed the stock to the detecting mechanism, and means to pull down the lower detecting member away from the upper member and simultaneously to open the gate as'the stock approaches the detecting mechanism.

4. In a grading machine, detecting mecha- .nism including an upper member, and. a: movable lower detecting member for engaging the under side of a piece of stock to be graded, means 'yieldingly to press the lower (16,

tecting member upward toward the upper member, grading mechanism governed by the lower detecting "menrber, a gate in front of, the, detecting mechanism, feeding-in mecha nism to feed the stock to the detecting mech anism', a, rotatable shaft and connections from said shaft tdactuate the feeding-in mechanism, to pull down the lower detecting. memberaway from the upper member and to open the gate.

5. In a grading machine, detecting 'mech-.

anism including an upper member,- and a movable lower detecting member for e11- gaging the under side of a piece of stock to be graded, rods extending downwardly from the lower detecting member, grading mechanism governed by the lower detecting member, feeding-in mechanism to feed the stock to the detecting mechanism, and an arm adapted to act through said rods to pull down the lower detecting member as the stock approaches the detecting mechanism. a

6. In a grading machine, detecting mechanism including an upper member, and a movable lower detecting member for engaging the under side of a iece of stock to be graded, rods extending ownwardly from the lower detecting member, a transmission lever actuated by said rods, grading mech-' anism governed by the lower detecting member through said rods and transmission lever, feeding-in mechanism to feed the stock to the detecting mechanism and an arm engaging, said rods below 'the transmission lever @adapted to pull down the lower detecting member as the stock approaches the detecting mechanism.

7. In a grading machine, detecting mechanism including an upper member, and a movable lower detecting member for engaging the under side of a piece of stock to be ra'ded, rods extending downwardly from t e lower detecting member, grading mechanism governed by the lower detecting member, feeding-in mechanism tofeed the stock to the detecting mechanism, an arm adapted to act through said rods to pull down the lower detecting member as the stock approaches the detecting mechanism, a gate in front of the detecting mechanism, a rotatable shaft, and connections from said shaft to actuate said arm and to open said gate.

8. In a grading machine, detecting mechanism including two relatively movable members having a closed position to engage and measure the stock to be graded and an open position, grading mechanism governed by the detectin mechanism, feeding-in mechanism to feed the stock to the detecting mechanism, a gate in front of the detecting mechanism, and means actuated during the advancing movement of the feedin -in mechanism simultaneously to open both the gate and the detecting members.

9. In a grading machine, detecting mechanism includingv two relatively movable members having a closed osition to en age and measure the stock to graded an an open position, grading mechanism governed by the detecting mechanism, feeding-in mechanism to feed the stock to the detecting. mechanism, a gate in front of the detecting mechanism, and means actuated during the advancing movement of the feedingin mechanism simultaneously to open both the gate and the detecting members, and

during the return movement of the feeding mechanism to close both the gate and the detecting members.

10. In a grading machine, detectin mechanism including an upper member, an a movable lower detecting member for engaging the underside of apiece of stock to be graded, rods extendin downwardly from the lower detecting mem ber, grading mechanism governed by the lower detecting mem- 7 ber, feeding-in mechanism to feedthe stock to the detecting mechanism, an arm adapted to act through said rods to pull down the lower detecting member as the stock approaches the detecting mechanism, a gate in front of the detecting-mechanism, a lever to lift the gate, and means actuated during the advancing movement of the feeding-in mechanism to actuate said arm to pull down said lower detecting member and to actuate 35 said lever to push up said gate.

11. In a grading machine, detecting mechanism including an upper member, and a movable lower detecting member for engaging the under side of a piece of stock to be graded, rods extending downwardly from the lower detecting member, grading mechanism governed by the lower detecting member, feeding-in mechanism to feed thestock to the detecting mechanism, an arm adapted to act through said rods to pull down the lower detecting member as the stock approaches the detecting mechanism, a gate in front of the detecting mechanism, a lever to lift the ate, and a transverse lever adapted to lift the gate lever and open ,the gate when said arm is depressed to pull down the lower detecting member.

12. In a grading machine, detecting mechanism including an upper member, and a movable lower detecting member for engaging the under side of a piece of stock to be graded, rods extendin downwardly from .the lower detecting mem er, grading mechanism governed by the lower detecting no member, feeding-in mechanism to feed the stock to the detecting mechanism, an arm adapted to act through said rods to pull down the lower detecting member as the stock approaches the detecting mechanism, a gate in front of the detecting mechanism,

a lever to lift the gate, a transverse lever adapted to lift the gate lever and open the gate when said 'arm is depressed to pull down the lower detecting member, a rotatable shaft, an operating connect-ion between said shaft and the feeding-in mechanism and an operating connection between said shaft and arm. I

13. In a grading machine, detecting mechanism, feeding-in mechanism having a reciprocating feed member to feed the stock to the detecting mechanism, a drive shaft, and actuating connections between the drive shaft and the feed member including a friction element adapted positively to actuate the feed member during normal operation of the machine but to slip under abnormal stresses.

14. In a rading machine, detecting mechanism, fee ing-in mechanism having a reciprocating feed member to feed the stock to the detecting mechanism, a continuously rotating shaft, actuating connections between said shaft and feed member including a clutch comprising two members capable of being positively engaged or disengaged, one rotating with the shaft'and the other loose on the shaft, one of said clutch mem-.

bers having therein a friction element adapted to cause the clutch member to function as a positive or unyielding member during normal operation of the machine-but to slip under abnormal stresses.

15. Ina grading machine, detecting mechanism, feeding-in mechanism having a reciprocating feed member to-feed the stock to the detecting mechanism, a continuously rotating shaft, actuating connections between said shaft and feed member including a clutch comprising two members capable of being positively engaged or disengaged, one-rotating with the shaft and the other loose on the shaft, the clutch member rotating with the shaft having a ,friction element interposed between the clutch member and the shaft adapted to cause the clutch member to turn with the shaft as a fixed member during normal operation of the machine but to slip imder abnormal stresses. 7,

16. In a grading machine, detecting mechanism, feeding-in mechanism having a reciprocating feed member to feed the stock to the detecting mechanism, a continuously rotating shaft, actuating connections between said shaft and feedjnember includ: ing a clutch comprising two members capable of being positively engaged or dis engaged, one rotating with t the other loose on the shaft, the clutch member rotating with the shaft being clamped between, friction washers of fibrous material to cause the'clutch memberto turn with the shaft as a fixed member during normal operation of the machine but to slip under abnormal stresses.

17; In a grading machine, upper and lower detecting and feeding rollers the upper roller having a circumferential groove therein, grading mechanism, feeding means between the detecting rollers and the grading mechanism, and a hold-down shoe adapted to press the stock into engagement 'with said feeding means, the forward end of saidhold-down shoe extending into the circumferential groove of the upper roller.

18. Ina grading machine, detecting mechanism, grading mechanism, and mechanism ,for'setting the grading mechanism in ace shaft and 'intcrrnediate loose member constructed for engagement both with the controlling memher and with the other loose member and actuated in one direction by the controlling member. I

19. In a grading machine, detecting mechanism, grading mechanism, and mechanism for setting the grading mechanism in accordance with the grade of the blank as dedetermined by. the detections of the detectsetting mechanism being of the kind adapted to permit a succeeding blank to operate the detecting mechanism'before the grading mechanism has completed its operation on the preceding blank, and including a rockshaft, connections between the detecting mechanism and the rock shaft to rotate .the latter in the direction and to the extent determined by the detections of the detecting mechanism, means associated with the rock shaft to preserve the adjustment of the spotof the blank as determined by the detecting mechanism, a controlling member fixedto the rock shaft, a member loosely mounted on the rock shaft and having connections to the grading mechanism, an intermediate member loosely mounted on the rock shaft constructed for engagement both with the controlling member and with the first loose member, and a spring yieldingly holding the intermediate membe'rin engagement with the first loose member.

.rockshaft in accordance with thethinnest 20. In a grading machine, detecting mechanism, grading mechanism, and mechanismfor setting the grading mechanism' in accordance with the grade of the blank as determined by the detecting mechanism, said setting mechanism being of the kind adapted to permit a succeeding blank to operate the detecting mechanism before the grad-- ingmechanism has completed its operation on the preceding blank, and in'cludinga rock shaft, connections between the detecting mechanism andthe rock shaft to rotate the latter in the direction and to the extent determined by the detections of the detecting mechanism, a controlling'inember fixed to the rock shaft, a gear segmentloosely mounted onthe'rock shaft, a rack meshing with the gear segment and connected to the grad- 3 7 ing mechanism, and an intermediate mem-' ber loosely mounted on the rock shaft and for settingithe grading mechanism in accordance with the grade of the blank as determined by the detecting mechanism, said setting mechanism being of the kind adapted to permit a succeeding blank to operate the detecting mechanism before the grading mechanism has completed the shaft, connections between the detecting mechanism and the rock shaft to rotate the latter in the direction and to the extent determined by the detections of the detecting mechanism, a controlling member fixed to the rock shaft, a gear segment loosely mounted on the rock shaft, a rack the gear segment and connected to the grading mechanism, and an intermediate member its 0 eration on; )recedin" blank, and melu in a rocka meshing with.

loosely mounted on the rock shaft and constructed for engagement both with the gear segment and with the controlling member,

and having a spring connection to said gear segment normally urging the gear segment "and the intermediate loose member into engagement with each other.'

22.- In a anism, gra ing mechanism, and mechanismrading machine, detecting mechfor setting the grading mechanism in, accordance with the grade ofthe blank as de- -termined by the detecting mechanism, said setting mechanism including a transmission lever responsive to the detecting mechanism and having thereon a gear segment, a rock shaft, a gear segment fixed tothe rock shaft and meshing with the gear segment on the transmission lever, and means angular ad uStment of the gear segment on to vary the the rock shaft vto. intermesh different teeth with the teeth of the segment on the transmission lever.

Signed by me at Manchester, New Hampshire this 22nd day of November 1926.

I LEANJDER A. COGSWELL. 

